By Shireen Jamooji
November 11, 2023
Kolhapur's cuisine is renowned for its rich and flavourful dishes, featuring a delightful blend of spices and a fiery kick that excites the taste buds. From spicy curries to delectable snacks, Kolhapur's food is a treat for those who enjoy bold and robust flavours.
Its fiery red colour and intense spiciness come from the local chillies and the traditional kanda lasun masala. A layer of spicy oil, called tarri, floats on top of a good one.
Pandhra Rassa complements Tambda Rassa. Unlike its red counterpart, it's pale with a milder spice level thanks to ingredients like coconut and poppy seeds.
A popular Kolhapuri street food, Kat Vada pairs oversized potato vadas with a spicy 'Kat' gravy. Kat shares similarities with the spiciness found in misal dishes, without sprouts.
This unique Maharashtrian pickle features marinated mutton with mustard seeds, fenugreek, and garlic.
A comforting dish from Radhanagari, Doodh Saar combines milk and spices offering a subtle spiciness and fragrant aroma.
Kolhapur's Bhel includes puffed rice, onions, tomatoes, coriander, peanuts, and spices, but with an extra kick of chilli powder. A crowd-pleasing snack enjoyed nationwide.
Distinct from the Puneri version, Kolhapuri Misal is fiery and uses the Kolhapuri kanda-lasun masala with dried red chillies, dry coconut, whole spices, moong dal, and sev.
This iconic dish features a spicy tomato-based gravy infused with red chillies and aromatic spices known for its robust, spicy flavour.